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Pre-school and childcare

There are a number of options when it comes to childcare.  Find out what's on offer to help you choose childcare which best suits you and your child's needs.

Directory and Map of childcare facilities in Peterborough

A booklet is produced each year by Peterborough City Council that lists all registered childcare facilities in Peterborough, along with maps showing where they are. The booklet contains a range of other useful information to help families make choices about childcare services for children of all ages. The booklet is available from the council's Customer Service Centre at Bayard Place or by contacting Peterborough's Families Information Service free on 0800 29 89 121.  Alternatively, you can download the booklet below.

The documents below appear in Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. In order to view it you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed. (Those with visual impairments may wish to investigate Access Adobe, which provides tools and information to help make PDF files more accessible). 

Adobe Acrobat logo

PDF file icon  Directory of childcare providers - 2011/2012
  (8117KB, 80 pages)

 

Private day nurseries and pre-schools

Sessional care (offering early years education foundation stage curriculum)

Facilities that provide day care for children under eight, for a session which is less than a continuous period of 4 hours in any day, in premises which are not domestic premises.  Where two sessions are offered in any one day, individual children must not attend more than five sessions a week.  There must be a break between sessions with no children in the care of the setting.  Sessional care intended to cover provision which offers children part-time care and the opportunity to engage in activities with their peer group, eg, playgroups.

Full day care (offering early years education foundation stage curriculum)

Facilities that provide day care for children under eight for a continuous period of 4 hours or more in any day in premises which are not domestic premises, eg, day nurseries and children's centres, and some family centres.

Accredited network childminders (offering early years education foundation stage curriculum)

A Childminding Network is a formal group of registered childminders within an identified locality, whose practice meets the standards laid out in the National Childminding Association (NCMA) Quality Childminding Charter. Childminders will be assessed and recruited by the Co-ordinator to the Network, which means they will be part of a professional, quality assured service, which parents can feel confident to use.

Network Childminders will receive ongoing support and advice from the Co-ordinator as well as having any training needs met.  They will also be provided with the opportunity of becoming accredited to allow them to access Nursery Education Grant funding for 3 and 4 year olds. The Co-ordinator can offer independent advice to both parents and childminders and can also provide a link between these and other organisations within the community.

The Peterborough Childminding Network has been approved by the National Childminding Association as a quality-assured NCMA Children Come First childminding network, able to accredit childminders to offer early years education.  This approval lasts until January 2012.

Sessional care (not offering early years education foundation stage curriculum)

Facilities that provide day care for children under eight, for a sessions which is less than a continuous period of 4 hours in any day, in premises which are not domestic premises.

Maintained nurseries

If you wish your child to attend the maintained (council run) nursery school or a maintained nursery unit within a primary school you should make arrangements to see the headteacher or the school concerned.  There is no automatic right of admission to maintained nursery schools or nursery units. Each one will publish information for parents to include:

  • admissions policy
  • admissions arrangements

The information is available from the nursery school or the schools with nursery units. Please note that:

  • attendance at maintained nursery schools or units is not a factor which is considered in deciding on the priority for admission or over-subscribed schools
  • attendance at a particular nursery unit does not guarantee entry into that infant or primary school

Crèches

A crèche is a facility that provides occasional care for children under eight and are provided on particular premises on more than five days a year.  They need to be registered where they run for more than 2 hours a day, even where individual children attend for shorter periods.  Some are in permanent premises and care for children while parents are engaged in particular activities, eg, shopping or sport.  Others are established on a temporary basis to care for children while their parents are involved in time-limited activities, eg, a conference or exhibition.

Parent and toddler groups

A parent and toddler pre-school represents a new and important step in the lives of parents and children.  Parents remain with and are responsible for their children throughout the session.  Parent and toddler pre-schools can give adults a chance to share both the pleasures and the anxieties of child rearing. Parent and toddler pre-schools offer:

  • a place to go, where both adults and children are welcome;
  • company, for both children and adults;
  • an opportunity for parents to be with their children without being distracted by household chores;
  • time and space for children to learn through satisfying play, perhaps with more equipment than can be provided at home;
  • the chance for parents to compare notes with others doing the same job;
  • opportunities for both adults and children to learn by observing and adsorbing new practices and ideas;
  • access to other community resources;
  • the beginning of friendships which may last long beyond parent and toddler pre-school days.

Please note as this type of provision is not registered with Ofsted this list is changeable.

Families information service for Peterborough

If you are unable to find a childcare place you may wish to contact Peterborough's families information service (FIS). The FIS holds details of all registered early years education and childcare providers in the area and offer confidential, impartial and free information and advice. Their freephone helpline (0800 29 89 121) is open between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday (with an answerphone service out of hours). Alternatively visit the FIS website: www.familiesandchildcare.org.uk